Kalashnikov AK-47

description

When people think of guns, many instinctively think of the AK-47 - and for good reason, as it was one of the first assault rifles to be produced. Released just after the Second World War, these long-lasting, inexpensive and practical weapons have been employed by numerous armed forces and terrorist groups across the globe. In fact, the AK series has been more popular than all other assault rifles, with approximately 100 million having been produced. It was originally designed in 1949 to help the Soviet army in combat against Nazi soldiers, and has since been employed in numerous wars and battles, most noticeably in the Vietnam War against American forces. The magazine is an iconic shape because the bullets are more conical than most, so stacking them in the clip forms the signature curve. Get yourself a 7.62x39mm!

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7.62x39mm

Universally recognizable this is the world famous 7.62x39mm, whose primary claim to fame is that it is the round that is fired from the Kalashnikov AK-47. Ever noticed how the magazine on the AK is so curved in comparison to other weapons? Well one look at the conical nature of this cartridge shows you exactly why..... Like the AK-47 this cartidge popped up at around the end of the second world war, but it is still in common usage today across vast swathes of the world. The trouble is, ever...

Confilicts:

Modern Warfare

In recent decades, warfare has changed dramatically to suit the most recent technologies and tactics. But despite advances in technology and the ongoing arms race one fact remains - guns are still the defacto means of arming soldiers, and that doesn't look set to change any time in the near future. Many firearms and cartridges can trace their lineage back over a hundred years which just goes to show that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Different countries will always have different views on how to arm their troops...

Confilicts:

Vietnam

The Vietnam War started because the country was split between communism in the north and capitalism in the south. The Viet Cong rebels who wanted to free the south started a powerful revolution during the Cold War. America continued to support the south, and when a war against the North began in November 1955, they offered assistance. However, the American public were worried by the escalating crisis and angered by the casualties. Nearly 550,000 troops were in the area when President Nixon decided to withdraw. Eventually, the North Vietnamese Army...